1901 Panhard et Levassor Type B1

After competing in a 1900 motor race in Newport, Rhode Island, in which the first Vanderbilt Cup was awarded, this 12 horsepower 4-cylinder Panhard et Levassor Type B1 was given to works racing drivers David Wolfe Bishop and Fernand Charron to compete in the New York to Buffalo endurance race in September 1901. Rene Panhard was the first to manufacture a motor car with an engine mounted in front and rear-wheel drive - a revolutionary design at the time. The Panhard was victorious in every stage of the 1901 endurance contest and was declared the overall winner. The car was then equipped for road use. Its exciting race history was not unearthed until very recently. This car features many original racing components not seen on other surviving Panhards and is the earliest known Panhard racing car from this influential period.